Henderson Park Inn sold - A Memphis, Tenn., firm plans to raze the building and replace it with condominiums.

By KELLY HUMPHREY Daily News North Okaloosa Editor

   A popular Destin landmark may soon be making way for a luxury condominium project bordering Henderson Beach State Park.   Dunavant Gulf LLC, a limited liability corporation owned by Dunavant Enterprises of Memphis, Tenn., bought the Henderson Park Inn and its 150 feet of beachfront from Henderson Park LLC for $34 million March 21.

   Built in 1991, the 32-room bed and breakfast inn sustained some damage during Hurricane Ivan and has not been open for several months. While repairs have been made to the building, chances are slim that it will reopen.    "Our intention is to demolish the building and put up very high-end, low-rise condos," said William Hagerman, president of Dunavant Gulf.

   Because the project’s master plan is still being developed, Hagerman could not give many details regarding the as yet unnamed condominiums. But he promised that the project would "be something the community would be proud of."   "We’re going to try to brand this project," he explained. "We feel it will have a very high profile because of its location next to the park and because of the ease of access due to its proximity to the Mid-Bay Bridge."   

Hagerman said the condominium project would most likely include units ranging from 2,600 to 3,800 square feet.  "The price will probably come in around the top of the market, around $1,400 a square foot for the larger units," he said.

   Hagerman estimated that it would take about a year before construction could begin but that the inn’s building might come down before then.   "We might have to do it for safety reasons," he said. "Sometimes, too, when people see an empty building at a site, they think there’s some delay with the project. That’s not the case here."

While Destin Mayor Craig Barker could not comment on the proposed condominium project, he expressed some nostalgia over the loss of the Henderson Park Inn.   "I can’t make any comments on the project, because it would be a quasi-judicial matter," Barker said. "But I’ll be sorry to see the Henderson Park Inn go."   The mayor said he receives many letters from visitors to Destin and has heard many positive comments about the inn.   "A lot of people have come there over the years," he said. "It’s become a treasure."